planetgeli
There's no future in England's dreaming
It's 85 degrees in Galle. Root must be exhausted and pissed off.
Just not good enough from the rest.
Just not good enough from the rest.
England Cricket 2021
- Thread starter Monkeygrinder's Organ
- Start date
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Bugger. Root run out again. 
Mind and body were gone in that last hour. Embuldeniya was bowling beautifully, lovely loopy drift in, then bite and sharp turn away. I can't see England making too many against him in the second innings. Ball is plopping then ripping.
42 runs behind still. SL are big favourites, imo, but there are really two games going on. For England, there's Root then the rest. For SL, there's Embuldeniya then the rest.
That said, Buttler looked good, as did Bess. Not much to say about the rest, except that they have work to do to work out a method in these conditions.
Mind and body were gone in that last hour. Embuldeniya was bowling beautifully, lovely loopy drift in, then bite and sharp turn away. I can't see England making too many against him in the second innings. Ball is plopping then ripping.42 runs behind still. SL are big favourites, imo, but there are really two games going on. For England, there's Root then the rest. For SL, there's Embuldeniya then the rest.
That said, Buttler looked good, as did Bess. Not much to say about the rest, except that they have work to do to work out a method in these conditions.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Root is tantalisingly close to having an average of 50 - a not out (or 112) in the 2nd innings and he'll be there again. His form over the 3 innings so far is just exceptional, on a different planet to every other England batsman.
Work for Leach and Anderson to do in the morning. 42 is a big lead to give up on a pitch that's rapidly deteriorating, but if they can have a good few overs with the bat and make that 20 max it's game on.
A chase of 150 is doable, simply because Root can get half of them. The only problem is he's the only one good enough to get an edge on one of the occasional unplayable balls spinning out of the cracks.
Work for Leach and Anderson to do in the morning. 42 is a big lead to give up on a pitch that's rapidly deteriorating, but if they can have a good few overs with the bat and make that 20 max it's game on.
A chase of 150 is doable, simply because Root can get half of them. The only problem is he's the only one good enough to get an edge on one of the occasional unplayable balls spinning out of the cracks.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
I wouldn't bet on England scoring more than 10 more runs. tbh I probably wouldn't bet too much on Anderson surviving the next four balls. But you never know. A few swipes and lucky edges. I wouldn't be advising them to block, that's for sure.
It was a great day of fighting test cricket. Always felt like SL were ahead, but if Root and Bess could have made it to the close, who knows? Those last three wickets may make all the difference. Fine margins. 340 and 40 behind not a good score. 420 and 40 ahead would have been a great score.
It was a great day of fighting test cricket. Always felt like SL were ahead, but if Root and Bess could have made it to the close, who knows? Those last three wickets may make all the difference. Fine margins. 340 and 40 behind not a good score. 420 and 40 ahead would have been a great score.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
What on earth are Sri Lanka doing? Net 104-6 at lunch. Don't fancy a run chase of 150+ though...
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
115-8, 4 each for Bess and Leach. Our decent but hardly world class spinners doing the damage.
A chase on this pitch against a left arm spinner who took 7 wickets in the first innings...
A chase on this pitch against a left arm spinner who took 7 wickets in the first innings...
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
164 to win.
One good partnership....
One good partnership....
QueenOfGoths
Fuck you Dave!
I'm currently in the soup and sweet aisle at work constantly refreshing the BBC coverage page!!
QueenOfGoths
Fuck you Dave!
Root could do that on his own!!
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Embuldeniya vs Root.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
They're both terrific all-rounders.Embuldeniya vs Root.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Sibley lucky to get to tea unscathed, 2 x umpire's call. As someone commented on the BBC, Rory Burns is having a good series.
118 needed. Stat fans, I've run the numbers - 62 NO and Root averages 50.00.
118 needed. Stat fans, I've run the numbers - 62 NO and Root averages 50.00.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Yes cricket fans, great news!
2 test series vs New Zealand in June. Lords and Edgbaston.
2 test series vs New Zealand in June. Lords and Edgbaston.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Root gone. Game on!!
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Sibley, Lawrence, Buttler. Not a lot of batting after that, still 80 to get.
This is going to be close, those 40 runs from the all-rounder look huge now.
This is going to be close, those 40 runs from the all-rounder look huge now.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Uh oh.
souljacker
innit
Looks like England are going to do their best to chuck this away lol.
Monkeygrinder's Organ
Dodgy geezer swilling vapid lager
Running out of batsmen here. At least we have new improved sensible test batsman Jos Buttler.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Sibley's now survived three umpire's calls. So much for biased home umps! (Although when it's just clipping leg, I always think not out is the right call.)
SpookyFrank
A cheap source of teeth for aquarium gravel
QueenOfGoths
Fuck you Dave!
Phew! Good match.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Will be great to host the kiwis but 2 tests is not enough
I think under the circumstances, while I completely agree 2 isn't enough I'll just be grateful that there's any test cricket at all.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Really enjoyable series at what must be the most glorious location for a test ground in the world (Dharamshala perhaps might argue with that).
Sri Lanka will be kicking themselves. Competed well every day except the first and the last. So England were somewhat gifted this win, but you can only beat what's in front of you, and they lost both tosses, which is huge in Asia.
Well done Dom Sibley. He would not have been high on my list of likely top-scorers today. Buttler had a good series. Spinners got lots of practice in. Seamers did well. Root was glorious.
Bairstow, Curran and Wood go home now. Stokes, Archer and Pope (if fit) come in. This was a very good win given the absence of Stokes in particular. Stokes for Curran strengthens the team massively. Roll on India. Beat them 3-0 and England are in the WTC final!
Sri Lanka will be kicking themselves. Competed well every day except the first and the last. So England were somewhat gifted this win, but you can only beat what's in front of you, and they lost both tosses, which is huge in Asia.
Well done Dom Sibley. He would not have been high on my list of likely top-scorers today. Buttler had a good series. Spinners got lots of practice in. Seamers did well. Root was glorious.
Bairstow, Curran and Wood go home now. Stokes, Archer and Pope (if fit) come in. This was a very good win given the absence of Stokes in particular. Stokes for Curran strengthens the team massively. Roll on India. Beat them 3-0 and England are in the WTC final!
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Two wins batting last on massively deteriorating pitches shouldn't be underestimated.
Root was just brilliant. Buttler also comes out with credit, as does Sibley based on his last innings - capacity to learn is important and he played the situation brilliantly. Both Bess and Leach have showed that they have a place in the 2nd innings, if there's a criticism it's a lack of control before the cracks appear which will place a heavy workload on the 3 seamers in India. Broad and Anderson, little left to say about them - even when seam wasn't expected to contribute much.
Measured praise for Bairstow too, he's been bowled through the gate far too many times to be considered an option against Cummins and co, but has shown himself as an option against spin.
Crawley disappointing but he has some credit in the bank and should remain an option in the top 3 even with Burns waiting in the wings. Lawrence, there's plenty to work with but a bit soon for him I think.
Root was just brilliant. Buttler also comes out with credit, as does Sibley based on his last innings - capacity to learn is important and he played the situation brilliantly. Both Bess and Leach have showed that they have a place in the 2nd innings, if there's a criticism it's a lack of control before the cracks appear which will place a heavy workload on the 3 seamers in India. Broad and Anderson, little left to say about them - even when seam wasn't expected to contribute much.
Measured praise for Bairstow too, he's been bowled through the gate far too many times to be considered an option against Cummins and co, but has shown himself as an option against spin.
Crawley disappointing but he has some credit in the bank and should remain an option in the top 3 even with Burns waiting in the wings. Lawrence, there's plenty to work with but a bit soon for him I think.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
What odds would you have got on the three England bowlers with the best averages in the series being Anderson, Root and Broad?
Anderson and Broad one match each, with a combined series analysis of 57 - 27 - 80 - 9
Anderson and Broad one match each, with a combined series analysis of 57 - 27 - 80 - 9
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
What odds would you have got on the three England bowlers with the best averages in the series being Anderson, Root and Broad?
Anderson and Broad one match each, with a combined series analysis of 57 - 27 - 80 - 9
In fairness, Bess and Leach both have their figures distorted by being over-bowled in the 1st innings. Both bowled a bit loose so take their share of the criticism, but it shows the difficulty of picking a team for these conditions - 2 spinners + Root absolutely essential, but with just 3 seamers it's hard to get their spells right before spin comes into the picture.
I wonder if the selectors might be thinking about 4 seamers for India. Bess and Leach, Archer, 2 from Anderson, Broad and Curran, plus Stokes. It's a long tail even with Curran (bowler who can bat a bit, not an all-rounder), but against a batting unit as good as India's there could be some long days in the field.
littlebabyjesus
one of Maxwell's demons
Please not Curran. 
Please. Woakes is a better bowler and a better batsman, and Curran has shown me no evidence that he can play the spinning ball. Curran is going home for at least the first two tests anyway.
Two specialist seamers, rotating probably between Archer, Anderson and Broad. Two spinners (+Root). Plus Stokes. That's enough bowling and enough of a tail. Moeen Ali also enters into the discussion.
Please. Woakes is a better bowler and a better batsman, and Curran has shown me no evidence that he can play the spinning ball. Curran is going home for at least the first two tests anyway.Two specialist seamers, rotating probably between Archer, Anderson and Broad. Two spinners (+Root). Plus Stokes. That's enough bowling and enough of a tail. Moeen Ali also enters into the discussion.
What odds would you have got on the three England bowlers with the best averages in the series being Anderson, Root and Broad?
Anderson and Broad one match each, with a combined series analysis of 57 - 27 - 80 - 9
I can't help thinking that Sri Lanka played Anderson and Broad on reputation and seemed like rabbits in the headlights. No real plan except try and survive. I get that its an inexperienced side and you're facing two of the best seam bowlers ever but this wasn't an English green top in early May and I think they will look back on this and agree they showed too much respect.
It seemed to me that there were plenty of moments when the sides look pretty even and games could go either way but SL had a shocker on day 1 of the series and another one on the final day and ended up losing 0-2. You can afford the odd bad session but bloody hard to win matches if you have bad whole days.
Zapp Brannigan
Built like a steakhouse, handles like a bistro
Please not Curran.
Two specialist seamers, rotating probably between Archer, Anderson and Broad. Two spinners (+Root). Plus Stokes. That's enough bowling and enough of a tail. Moeen Ali also enters into the discussion.
I'd forgotten that Curran wasn't available for 2 tests, so that probably makes my previous point moot.
Woakes at 7 is too high, so you're probably right with that selection. First innings, expect to see the odd herculean 12+ over spells from the machine that is Ben Stokes, to wrap either Anderson or Broad in cotton wool and to keep Archer's spells short, sharp and fast.
